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Amish Country, or Pennsylvania Dutch Country, consists of more than 25 Amish, Mennonite and Brethren groups, primarily located in Lancaster County. While the world has become fast-paced, Amish communities, or “Plain People,” maintain a lifestyle reminiscent of colonial times. Travel and tourism includes horse-drawn buggy rides through 29 covered bridges, sometimes called “kissing bridges,” vendors selling handcrafted items and sweeping farmlands with windmills. The outskirts of Amish communities feature modern tourism options like malls and amusement parks.

Covered Bridges

Lancaster Country’s covered bridges are traveled by cars or horse-drawn buggies, taking visitors to small farming communities with fields, old schoolhouses and wooden homes. The PA Dutch Visitors Center has created five driving tours that include passing several covered bridges. The Scenic Parks & Preserve Trail tour features seven bridges, such as Willow Hill and Herr’s Mill, as well as woods and nature preserves and The Amish Farm and House from 1805, which offers historic clothing and 15 acres of farmland with sheep and a blacksmith shop. The Northern Amish Countryside tour travels through the town of Ephrata and features five historically-preserved covered bridges, including Weaver’s Mill, Pool Forge and Bitzer’s Mill.

Museums and Heritage

Amish history began during the 16th-century Reformation in Europe, when plain communities that shared similar religious beliefs decided to live conservative, humble lives separate from the modern world. Members of these groups settled in Lancaster County around the 1720s. Amish villages throughout the county are like living museums of the past. Tourists see villagers working their farms, selling fresh fruits and vegetables at farmer’s markets, or erecting new buildings. The Christiana Underground Railroad Center at Historic Zercher’s Hotel represents the Amish community’s role in helping slaves on their journeys toward freedom. One feature commemorates four Quaker men and 34 former slaves who stood up to a Maryland plantation owner on Sept. 11, 1851.

Typical Weather

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in

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The temperature in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in August tends to be very predictable, so you can generally count on the forecast and travel light.

The temperature in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in August is somewhat unpredictable, so be on the safe side and prepare for a variety of conditions.

The temperature in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in August is highly unpredictable, so use the forecast as a guide, but be ready for anything!

Outdoor Activities

Lancaster County features biking and hiking trails along its rolling countryside, as well as nature preserves, state game lands and recreation parks in Amish country. The Lancaster Bicycle Club offers guided bike tours for beginner to advanced riders on 7- to 84-mile bike trails. The 7-mile School Lane Hills ride starts at Buchanan Park, travels through residential neighborhoods and to historic homes like Wheatland, the 1828 mansion home of President Buchanan. The Susquehanna Gateway Heritage Area’s Speedwell Forge County Park consists of 415 acres of wetland woods, dwarf ginseng, Joe Pye weed and maturing forests. The park allows in-season grouse and deer hunting.

Food and Wine

Amish country gives visitors a chance to taste foods grown on local farms and created in small factories. Lancaster Country offers food and wine tours, during which visitors sample some of the areas local treats. The Sweet ‘n Salty Trail features treat factories and confectionaries. Stops include Herr’s Snack Factory, a creator of potato chips and pretzels, and Hershey’s Chocolate World. The 300-acre Nissley Vineyards & Wine Estate grows 14 grape varieties and offers guided and self-guided tours. The town of Intercourse still has buggy hitching posts and contains 39 places to taste food. Amish and Mennonite women make jams and jellies for visitors at the Jam & Relish Kitchen.

Lodging

Pennsylvania Dutch Country offers bed and breakfasts, working farms, resorts and campgrounds. Country Vistas Bed & Breakfast invites families to its farmhouse, where they gather eggs, feed chickens, ride ponies, pick fruits and vegetable, or relax on the porch and watch passing buggies. One of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Historic Hotels of America, the 1881 Lancaster Arts Hotel is a former tobacco warehouse that contains an art gallery and an organic fine-dining restaurant. Country Haven Campground consists of tent and RV campsites overlooking the Amish countryside.

Photography

Tourist should respect the Amish beliefs as they would if visiting another country. Amish people do not have personal photos in their homes because they believe pictures draw attention to one person. Tourists should either refrain from taking photos or make sure faces are not recognizable in the pictures.

Resources

About the Author

Based in Tucson, Ariz., Cicely A. Richard has been writing since 1996. Her articles have been published in the “Arizona Daily Star” newspaper and “ForeWord Magazine.” Richard earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and journalism from Louisiana State University. .

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